2.2.3

Other Features

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Texture and Instrumentation

A key feature of the Romantic period was compositions for solo piano.

The piano

The piano

A key feature of the Romantic period was compositions for solo piano.
The piano had started to develop in range and composers felt it was able to express powerful emotions.

The Romantic style

The Romantic style

Through virtuosic playing, adventurous harmony, dramatic chords and use of accented notes this piece shows how Beethoven led the way for the Romantic style.

Homophonic

Homophonic

The texture of the piece is homophonic (melody and accompaniment) with flowing melodies and dramatic chords.

Alberti bass

Alberti bass

There is use of Alberti bass which is a feature used heavily in the Classical period.
This is a type of broken chordal accompaniment played by the left hand.

Harmony

The first subject and second subject, as heard in the exposition, are in C minor and Eb minor respectively.

Descending chromatic

Descending chromatic

There is a descending chromatic (moving in semitones) line in bar 10.
The first subject and second subject, as heard in the exposition, are in C minor and Eb minor respectively.

Diminished 7th chords

Diminished 7th chords

Beethoven uses diminished 7th chords which are chords made up of minor third intervals.
This links with the idea of suffering within the Sonata.

Dominant preparation

Dominant preparation

Dominant preparation occurs within the development section where the piece travels through many keys and finishes with 30 bars of G quavers that prepare the return to C minor in the recapitulation section.

The recapitulation

The recapitulation

Within the recapitulation section the first subject returns in C Minor and the second subject is repeated in F Minor.

1

Musical Elements

1.1

Organisation of Pitch

1.1.1Melodic Pitch 1.1.2Melodic Devices 1.1.3Harmonic Pitch 1.1.4Harmonic Devices 1.1.5Harmonic Progressions

1.2

Tonality

1.2.1Major & Minor Tonality 1.2.2End of Topic Test - Musical Elements

2

Instrumental Music 1700–1820

2.1

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major

2.1.1Concerto No. 5 in D Major 2.1.2Structure & Melody 2.1.3Instrumentation & Texture 2.1.4Harmony 2.1.5Wider Listening

2.2

Beethoven: Sonata ‘Pathétique’

2.2.1Piano Sonata No. 8 2.2.2Structure & Melody 2.2.3Other Features 2.2.4Wider Listening 2.2.5End of Topic Test - Instrumental Music 1700–1820

3

Vocal Music

3.1

Purcell: Music for a While

3.1.1Music for a While 3.1.2Other Features 3.1.3Wider Listening

3.2

Queen: Killer Queen

3.2.1Killer Queen 3.2.2Other Features 3.2.3Wider Listening 3.2.4End of Topic Test - Vocal Music

4

Music for Stage & Screen

4.1

Schwartz: Defying Gravity

4.1.1Defying Gravity 4.1.2Other Features 4.1.3Wider Listening 4.1.4End of Topic Test - Defying Gravity

4.2

Williams: Star Wars Episode IV

4.2.1A New Hope 4.2.2Structure & Melody 4.2.3Other Features 4.2.4Wider Listening 4.2.5End of Topic Test - Star Wars Episode IV

5

Fusions

5.1

Afro Celt Sound System: Release

5.1.1Release 5.1.2Other Features 5.1.3Wider Listening

5.2

Spalding: Samba Em Preludio

5.2.1Samba Em Preludio 5.2.2Structure & Melody 5.2.3Other Features 5.2.4Wider Listening 5.2.5End of Topic Test - Fusions

Jump to other topics

1

Musical Elements

1.1

Organisation of Pitch

1.1.1Melodic Pitch 1.1.2Melodic Devices 1.1.3Harmonic Pitch 1.1.4Harmonic Devices 1.1.5Harmonic Progressions

1.2

Tonality

1.2.1Major & Minor Tonality 1.2.2End of Topic Test - Musical Elements

2

Instrumental Music 1700–1820

2.1

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major

2.1.1Concerto No. 5 in D Major 2.1.2Structure & Melody 2.1.3Instrumentation & Texture 2.1.4Harmony 2.1.5Wider Listening

2.2

Beethoven: Sonata ‘Pathétique’

2.2.1Piano Sonata No. 8 2.2.2Structure & Melody 2.2.3Other Features 2.2.4Wider Listening 2.2.5End of Topic Test - Instrumental Music 1700–1820

3

Vocal Music

3.1

Purcell: Music for a While

3.1.1Music for a While 3.1.2Other Features 3.1.3Wider Listening

3.2

Queen: Killer Queen

3.2.1Killer Queen 3.2.2Other Features 3.2.3Wider Listening 3.2.4End of Topic Test - Vocal Music

4

Music for Stage & Screen

4.1

Schwartz: Defying Gravity

4.1.1Defying Gravity 4.1.2Other Features 4.1.3Wider Listening 4.1.4End of Topic Test - Defying Gravity

4.2

Williams: Star Wars Episode IV

4.2.1A New Hope 4.2.2Structure & Melody 4.2.3Other Features 4.2.4Wider Listening 4.2.5End of Topic Test - Star Wars Episode IV

5

Fusions

5.1

Afro Celt Sound System: Release

5.1.1Release 5.1.2Other Features 5.1.3Wider Listening

5.2

Spalding: Samba Em Preludio

5.2.1Samba Em Preludio 5.2.2Structure & Melody 5.2.3Other Features 5.2.4Wider Listening 5.2.5End of Topic Test - Fusions

Practice questions on Other Features

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1
What was a key feature of the Romantic period? Multiple choice
2
Ways the set work demonstrates the Romantic style:Fill in the list
3
Texture of Sonata ‘Pathétique’:True / false
4
What is the name for a type of broken chordal accompaniment played by the left hand?Multiple choice
5
What type of line is heard in bar 10?Multiple choice

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Structure & Melody

Wider Listening